“I just had a pain in my stomach. I didn’t expect cancer.
09:14, 18 Jul 2026Updated 09:22, 18 Jul 2026
Debbie has been diagnosed with a rare bone cancer.
A Glasgow mum who was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer after doctors initially suspected kidney stones were responsible for her illness has revealed that a tumour on her spine doubled in size in just a matter of weeks.
Debbie Forey, 37, from Drumchapel, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer that accounts for just one per cent of cancers diagnosed in adults, after seeking answers for persistent abdominal pain.
The senior support worker is now preparing to travel to Newcastle for two specialist major operations, after the tumour, which originated in her spine, rapidly grew and spread towards her lung.
She and her family are currently fundraising to help cover accommodation costs, so that her husband Chris and their 18-year-old son can remain close by during the six weeks she is expected to spend in hospital.
Debbie first noticed a nagging pain in her lower abdomen in December last year. She said: “It was like having a stitch, so it wasn’t bad, just annoying,” reports the Record.
Debbie and Chris.
Her GP initially believed the pain could be linked to her reproductive organs and referred her for an ultrasound scan and smear test, both of which came back clear.
As the pain persisted, doctors began looking into whether it could be connected to her stomach. Debbie had privately undergone gastric sleeve surgery in January 2025, losing an incredible 10 stone, but had experienced no complications from the procedure.
Everything changed when she forgot to take her painkillers during a work shift. She said: “One day, when I was on shift, I became so unwell from the pain that my boss took me to A&E.”
Doctors initially suspected kidney stones and sent her for an MRI scan. While medics discovered a harmless growth on her hip, further investigations revealed something far more sinister – a tumour on her spine.
Debbie was referred to spine specialists in Newcastle.(Image: Supplied)
Following additional scans and tests, Debbie received a diagnosis of osteosarcoma in April and was referred to spinal specialists in Newcastle due to the tumour’s location.
She was informed that treatment would be necessary, despite the cancer initially being classified as low-grade. However, when she returned for further imaging in June, doctors found the tumour had doubled in size in just six weeks.
She explained: “The tumour is still testing as low grade but behaving like an aggressive cancer. It has now encroached on my lung and spine.”
Debbie is set to begin treatment next month, facing two major surgical procedures before spending approximately six weeks recovering at the Royal Victoria Infirmary.
She said: “It has just been a complete shock at what was found. I just had a pain in my stomach. I didn’t expect cancer.
“I have an active and manual job, and was just getting on with life as usual. It’s likely that the tumour was pressing on a nerve and that was causing the pain.”
Debbie with her son Jay and husband Chris.(Image: Supplied)
Given how rare osteosarcoma is amongst adults, Debbie admitted she had never previously heard of the disease before receiving her diagnosis. She said: “I had never heard of osteosarcoma before. There has been a lot of Googling, but as they aren’t able to tell me what stage the cancer is, it hasn’t helped at all. I don’t really know what’s happening and we won’t know until I have the surgery.
“Doctors have been very honest with me that they might not be able to remove all of the tumour or what will happen after the surgery.
“All the uncertainty is quite terrifying, for me and my family.”
A fundraising campaign has been set up to provide support for Debbie and her loved ones throughout this incredibly difficult time, with donations going towards accommodation costs for family members travelling to visit her in Newcastle during her recuperation. To contribute, click HERE.